REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG -- The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Padang Panjang Geophysical Station, West Sumatra, has stated that a total lunar eclipse will occur on Jan 31, 2018, and it will be visible in the province.

"If the weather is bright, people in West Sumatra can see a total lunar eclipse using the naked eye," the Head of Padang Panjang Geophysical Station, Rahmat Triyono, said here on Monday.

When a lunar eclipse occurs, the distance between the moon and the earth is closer than usual, at about 360 thousand kilometers. This condition is called perigee, namely the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is nearest to the earth.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the entire face of the moon is covered by the shadow of the earth. It happens when the earth is between the sun and the moon in the same straight line. This position prevents the sunlight from reaching the moon because it is blocked by the earth. "The total lunar eclipse can be seen at 19:51 local time and its peak at 20:27 local time," he revealed.

During the eclipse, the moon will be reddish. The lunar eclipse will end at 21:07 local time.

According to Rahmat, observation of the lunar eclipse would be better with binoculars.

"Observing the lunar eclipse with naked eye can be possible is if the weather is clear," he noted, adding that viewing the lunar eclipse does not require special glasses.

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